Steroid intermediates



of matter.

United States 1 2,759,013 STEROHTINIERNIEDIATES "Melvin "S. Newman, Columbus, Ohio, and Sambasiva '6-oxo-8u methyl-3,'4;6,7 ,8,8a-hexahydro-1-naphthoic acid, and .6-oxo 8a-methyl-l,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, and to-methods for their preparation.

The present application is a-continu-ation-in-part of our copending applications, Serial No. 251,244, filed October 13, 1951, and Serial No. 267,432, filed January 21,1952, both now abandoned.

The novel compounds are useful as intermediates in the total synthesis of steroids. The novel 1-cyano-6- alkoxy-8ct-methyl-3,7,8,8u-tetrahydronaphthalene is con- 'verted by hydrolysis to the novel 6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,-

7,8,8m-hexahydro-l-naphthoicacid and the latter can be converted to 1-acetyl-6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexa- 'hydronaphthalene by'reacting with thionyl chloride and mixing the resulting reaction product with dimethyl cadmium, and the resulting l-acetyl-6-oxo-8a-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8whexahydronaphthalene can be converted to cortisone according to the procedure disclosed byFriedmann et a1. (Chem. and Ind., September 15, 1951, pages 777-778). The novel 1-cyano-6-alk0xy-8a-methyl-3,7,- 8,8u-tetrahydronaphthalene can be converted directly to the l-acetyl-6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8u-hexahydronaphthalene by reacting with methyl magnesiumbromide and hydrolyzing the resulting addition product with an acid in the presence of water. The compounds of thepresent inventionare alsouseful as plant growth regulators.

Inthenovel processes of the present invention we employ a compound identified as a l-hydroxy-lecyano-6- alkoxy 8:! methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene (where the alkoxy group may be either methoxy, ethoxy,

propoxy, butoxy, amoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy, or octoxy) as an intermediate in the synthesis ofour new compositions We prefer to obtain the above identified hexahydronaphthalene compound by reacting a 1,2,3,7,- 8,8a-hexahydro-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl 1 oxonaphthalene with potassium cyanide and acetic acid, all reactants being dissolved in ethanol. Instead of potassium cyanide any other alkali cyanide may be used and instead of ethanol any other similar alcoholic solvent maybeused.

As stated, the alkoxy group may be methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy,butoxy, amoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy, or octoxy.

The-starting compound (i. e. the 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahy- -dro-6-alkoxy-sa-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene) has a formula of in which RO is alkoxy and is produced by reacting 8a-methyl-l,6-dioxo 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphtha-' lene (U. S. Patent 2,542,223) with a trialkylorthoformate in the presence of an acid catalyst. The novel l,2,3,7,8,- 3a hexahydro-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene reacts with the alkali cyanide and acetic acid to obtain a lhydroxy-1-cyano-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8ahexahydronaphthalene having a formula as follows:

! atent ice :Eatented Aug. '14, 1.956

::8u-hex-ahydronaphthale ne thus obtained 1 is dehydrated,

one-half to three .hours .to yield ..1.-cyano-.6-.alkoxy-8amethyl-3,7,13,5 ,11 tetrahydronaphthalene. ,Advantageously .the reaction mixture can be permitted to standatroom temperature, say forabout twenty hours, pr-ior.to.heatting. .Theresulting dehydrated reaction .productisthereupon hydrolyzed by refluxing with an alkali metal hydroxide to-produce an alkali-metal salt of fi-alkoxy-Ba- The free metal salt witha-mineral acid, e. g.,rh-ydrochlor-ic, sulfuric, or the like, whereupon 6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,-

8a-hexahydrol -naphthoic I acid: is: extracted from the acid mixture with. ether.

The following examples, in which the parts are by weight unless otherwise specified, are illustrative of the iprocess andproducts of ithe present invention,':but are not to be construed as-limiting.

PREPARATION 1.1,2,3,7,8,8a-HEXAHYDROr6-ETHOXY-18a- METHYL-l-OXONAPHTHALENE A :rrri-xture of 43.2 grams of Swmethyl-1,6 dioxo71,2,-

3,4,6,7,8,Sa-octahydronaphthalene, 36 -milliliters of --absolute ethanol, 41 grams of triethylorthoformate, 240

milliliters of-dry benzene,. and eight 'milliliters of tfive percent alcoholic-hydrochloric acidwas refluxed-for two =hours'ona water bath :maintained at -tor :degrees centigrade. with ten percent alcoholic :sodium hydroxide solution, and extracted with .200 .milliliters of ether. extract was Washed successively'with .100 milliliters :of

The rnixturewas then cooled, :neutralized The.= ether water, 300 milliliters of five :percent :aqueous :sodium :hydroxide solution, 100.milliliters of 'water, .arrda-saturated sodium chloride .solution, and then dried "over anhydrous sodium sulfate. .The ether was removed and the residual liquid, weighing 51 to 52 grams, was 'distilled under vacuum and an orange-yellow liquid "distilling at 101 to 104 degrees centigrade at onemilliliter pressure and-having an indexof refraction, N5 1.5257,

'=was collected.

A portion of the product obtained above was redistilled, and the fraction which distilled at--102 degrees centigrade at 0.7 milliliter of mercury. analyzed as follows:

Analysis.-Calculated for CrsHrsOz: C, 75.7; H, 8.8. 'Found: .C, 75.2; H, 9.1.

In the same mannerxas shown-in Preparation 1, other 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-6-alkoxy 8a methyl-l-oxonaphthalenes such as 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-6-methoxy 8a- :methyl 1 -oxonaphthalene, .1,2.,3,7,8,8a hexahydro 6 propoxy-8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene, 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexa- .hydro-6-butoxy=8mmethyl-l-oxonaphthalene, and the cor- :responding amoxy, hexoxy, 'heptoxy, -and octoxycompounds can be prepared by utilizingthe corresponding .lower- (tri-alkyl)-orthoformate in-lieu of the'triethylorthoformate utilized in Preparation 1.

(160 ml.). The mixture was stirred and cooled in ice; glacial acetic acid..(90 ml.) and a solution of 24.7 g. of 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene in 100 ml. of ethanol were added in succession and dropwise while maintaining good stirring. After three hours at the reaction mixture was diluted with water (480 ml.) and the yellow solid which separated, was collected and dried (17 g.). The aqueous-alcoholic filtrate on further dilution with water and standing deposited more product (3.2 g.). The crops were combined and crystallized from ether; yield, 13 g.; M. P. l45155. After three crystallizations the compound melted at 155158 centigrade and exhibited the following characteristics:

Ultra-violet spectrum:

AEtOHx-nax, 242 m logm E=4.3

Analysis.-Calculated for C14H19NO2: C, 72.1; H, 8.2; N, 6.0. Found: C, 71.7; H, 8.8; N, 6.2.

In the same manner as shown in Preparation 2, other pared by utilizing the corresponding 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-6-alkoxy-8a-methyll-oxonaphthalene.

Example I .-1-cyan0-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8atetrahydronaphthalene To an ice-cold solution of l-cyano-l-hydroxy-6-ethoxy- 8m-methyl-1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene (I) (42 g.) in pyridine (175 ml.) was added dropwise phosphorus oxychloride (34 ml). The resulting mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 20 hours and afterwards heated on a steam bath for 2 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was decomposed with ice, acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid and immediately extracted with ether. The ether extract was successively washed with water and saturated sodium chloride solution. After drying over sodium sulfate, it was concentrated. The residual liquid weighed 32 g. and was distilled; B. P. 125130/O.2 mm.; yield, 25 g. To ensure that this material was free from a product arising from hydrolysis of the enol ether linkage, it was treated with ethyl orthofor-mate as follows:

A mixture of the dehydration product (10 g.) obtained above, ethyl orthoformate (9.5 ml.), benzene (100 ml.) and alcoholic hydrochloric acid (12./., 1.5 ml.) was heated on a steam bath for 2 /2 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was neutralized with sodium hydroxide, washed with saturated sodium chloride solution and concentrated. The residual liquid was distilled and the portion distilling at 105109/0.2 mm., 8 g., showed the following characteristics:

Ultra-violet spectrum;

AEtOHmax, 232 mu; loglo E=5.08

The position of the maximum and the large value for extinction confirm the structure.

Analysis.Calculated for C14H1'1ON: N, 6.5. Found: N, 6.3.

The infra-red spectrum indicated the presence of the nitrile group and the absence of the hydroxyl group.

The nitrile was'characterized further by the product obtained on hydrolysis with alkali. A mixture of nitrile (6 g.), ethylene glycol (40 ml.), water (10 ml.) and sodium hydroxide g.) was refluxed for 8 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into water and unreacted nitrile removed by extraction with ether. The aqueous layer was acidified with dilute sulfuric acid and heated on a steam bath for minutes with decolorizing. charcoal. The solution was filtered hot and the filtrate I i on cooling, deposited crystals. 'These were collected and recrystallized from ethanol. M. P. 159.

Analysis-Calculated for C12H1403: C, 69.9; H, 6.8. Found: C, 70.0, 70.1; H, 7.2, 7.0.

The ultra violet absorption curve for the substance (AEtOI'Imax, 286 mu; logro E=3.52) indicated it to be 6-oxo-8a-methyl-1,2,6,7,8,8a-1-naphthoic acid havingthe formula:

In the same manner as disclosed in Example 1 the following 1-cyano-6-alkoxy 8a methyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalenes are prepared by utilizing the corresponding 1-cyano-1-hydroxy 6 alkoxy-8a-methyl-1,2,3,7,8,8a-

hexahydronaphthalene: l-cyano 6 methoxy-8a-methyl- 3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, l-cyano 6 propoxy-8amethyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, 1-cyano-6-butoxy- 8a methyl 3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene, 1-cyano-6- amoxy 8a methyl 3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, 1- cyano 6 hexoxy 8a methyl-3,7,8,8a.-tetrahydronaphthalene, 1-cyano-6-heptoxy 8a methyl-3,7,8,8utetrahydronaphthalene, 1-cyano-6-octoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8atetrahydronaphthalene, and the like.

Example 2. 6-0x0-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydr0-1- naphthoic acid A mixture of l-hydroxy-1-cyano-6-ethoxy-8a-methy1 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene prepared as described in Preparation 2 (2.4 g.), pyridine (60 ml.) and phosphorus oxychloride (1.5 ml.) was heated in a sealed tube at 130150 for 1 /2 hours. The dark brown solution was cooled and poured intoa mixture of ice and concentrated hydrochloric acid ml.). The organic material was extracted with ether twice and the combined ether extracts were concentrated after drying over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The residual brown liquid was refluxed with a solution of sodium hydroxide (5 g.) in a mixture of water (15 ml.) and ethanol (25 ml.) for eight hours. At the end of this period, the reaction mixture was freed from alcohol, diluted with water and acidified to Congo red. An oil separated and was extracted with ether. The ether layer was washed once with water and then extracted with an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (40 ml., 5%). The bicarbonate extract was acidified (Congo red) with hydrochloric acid and exhaustively extracted with ether. This ether extract was washed once with saturated salt solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removal of ether, approximately 1.5 g. oil remained. After repeated extraction with boiling cyclohexane and cooling, a solid material was obtained and was recrystallized from aqueous alcohol. Yield of 6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a.- hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, 0.54 g., M. P. -127". The compound was further purified by recrystallization from aqueous ethanol, and melted at 1335-1345 degrees centigrade and exhibited the following characteristic:

Ultra-violet spectrum:

AEtOI-ImaX, 240 m logm E=4.4

Analysis-Calculated for C12H14O3: C, 69.9; H, 6.8.

Found: C, 69.7; H, 7.0.

Example 3 .6-0x0-8 x-metlzyl-3,4,6,7,8,8alzexahya'ro-J naphthoic acid Example 4.6-0xo-8m-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8u-hexahydra-I- naphthoic acid In the same manner as shcwn in Example 2, 6-oxo-8amethyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid is prepared by using l-hydroxy-1-cyano-6-propoxy-Six-methyl- 1,2,3,7,8,Sa-heXahydIQna hthalene as the starting compound.

Other representative l-hydroxy-l-cyano-6-alkoxy-8umethyl-1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalenes which can be employed to produce 6-OXO-8a-DZ16thYl-3,4,6,7,8,8cc-h6X3.- hydro-l-naphthoic acid include l-hydroxy-l-cyano-6- butoxy 8a methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydronaphthalene, l hydroxy l cyano 6 amoxy 8a methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydronaphthalene, l hydroxy 1 cyano 6 hexoxy 8oz methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydronaphthalene, l hydroxy 1 cyano 6 heptoxy 8a. methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8oc hexahydronaphthalene, 1 hydroxy l cyano 6 octoxy 8a methyl l,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydronaphthalene, and the like.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The process which comprises hydrolyzing l-cyano- 6 alkoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,Sa-tetrahydronaphthalene with an alkali to produce an alkali metal salt of 6-0240-811- methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid.

2. In a process for the preparation of a 6-OXO-8amethyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of dehydrating 1-hydroxy-l-cyano-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl- 1,2,3,7,8,8a -hexahydronaphtha1ene with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride to produce l-cyano-6-alkoxy-8amethyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing the 1-cyano-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkalimetal salt of 6-alkoxy-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydrol-naphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkali-metal salt to produce the desired acid.

3. In the process for the preparation of 1-cyano-6- alkoxy 8m methyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, the step of dehydrating 1 hydroxy-l-cyano-6-alkoxy-8amethyl 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydroxynaphthalene by heating with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride.

4. In a process for the preparation of 1-cyano-6- ethoxy 8oz methyl-3,7,8,Sa-tetrahydronaphthalene, the step of dehydrating 1 hydroxy-1-cyano-6-ethoxy-8amethyl- 1,2,3,7,8,8m-hexahydronaphtha1ene by heating with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride.

5. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8u-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8e-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of dehydrating 1-hydroxy-1-cyano-6-ethoxy 8oz methyl- 1,2,3,7,8,8m-hexahydro naphthalene by heating with pyridine and phosphorous oxychloride, and hydrolyzing the dehydrated product with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkali-metal salt of 6-ethoxy-8a-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid.

6. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8a-methyl 3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of dehydrating l-hydroxy-l-cyano-G-ethoxy 8a methyl- 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride to produce l-cyano-6-ethoxy-8amethyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing lcyano-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl 3,7,8,8u tetrahydronaphthalene with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkalimetal salt of 6-ethoxy-8a-methy1-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydrol-naphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkali-metal salt to produce the desired acid.

7. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8a-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of reacting 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydro-6-alkoxy-8e-methyl-1- oxo-naphthalene with an alkali-metal cyanide and acetic acid to yield 1 hydroxy-1-cyano-6-a1koxy-8e-methy1- l,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene, dehydrating with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride to produce l-cyano-6- alkoxy-8u-methyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing the 1-cyano-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8u-tetrahydronaphthalene with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkali-metal salt of the 6-alkoxy-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkalimetal salt to produce the desired acid.

8. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8a-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydr0-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of reacting l,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene with an alkali-metal cyanide and acetic acid to yield 1 hydroxy l cyano 6 ethoxy 8a methyl- 1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene, dehydrating l-hydroxy 1 cyano 6 ethoxy 8a methyl 1,2,3,7,8,8ahexahydronaphthalene with pyridine and phosphorous oxychloride to produce l-cyano-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl- 3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing 1-cyan0-6- ethoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkali-metal salt of 6 ethoxy 8a methyl 3,4,6,7,8,8a hexahydro lnaphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkali-metal salt to produce the desired acid.

9. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8a-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8u-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of mixing 8a-methyl-l,6-dioxo-l,2,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene with a trialkylorthoformate to produce 1,2,33,18,80; hexahydro 6 alkoxy 8o: methyl loxonaphthalene, reacting 1,2,3,7,8,8u-hexahydrcr6-alkoxy- 8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene with an alkali-metal cyanide and acetic acid to yield l-hydroxy-l-cyano-6-alkoxy-8umethyl-1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene, dehydrating with pyridine and phosphorus oxychloride to produce 1- cyano 6 alkoxy 8oz. methyl 3,7,8,8m tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing the 1-cyano-6-alkoxy-8a-methyl- 3,7,8,8ot-tetrahydr0naphthalene with an alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkali-metal salt of 6-alkoxy- 8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkali-metal salt to produce the desired acid.

10. In a process for the preparation of 6-oxo-8u-methyl- 3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, the steps of mixing 8a-methyl-l,6-dioxo1,2,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene with triethylorthoformate to produce 1,2,3,7,8,8ahexahydro-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-l-oxonaphthalene, reacting 1,2,3,7,8,8a hexahydro 6 ethoxy 8a methyl loxonaphthalene with an alkali-metal cyanide and acetic acid to yield 1hydroxy-1-cyano-6-ethoxy-8a-methyll,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene, dehydrating with pyridine and phosphorous oxychloride to produce l-cyano-6- ethoxy 8oz methyl 3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene, hydrolyzing 1-cyano-6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-3,7,8,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene with 1311 alkali-metal hydroxide to produce an alkali-metal salt of 6-ethoxy-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8ahexahydro-l-naphthoic acid, and hydrolyzing the alkalimetal salt to produce the desired acid.

11. A compound selected from the group consisting of l cyano 6 alkoxy 8a methyl 3,7,8,8oz tetrahydronaphthalene, 6-oxo-8a-methyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-lnaphthoic acid, and 6-oxo-8wn1ethyl-l,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-l-naphthoic acid.

12. 1 cyano 6 alkoxy 8a methyl 3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene.

13. 1 cyano 6 ethoxy 8a methyl -3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene.

14. l cyano 6 methoxy 8a methyl 3,7,8,8a tetrahydronaphthalene.

15. l cyano 6 propoxy 8a methyl 3,7,8,8 x tetrahydronaphthalene.

16. 6 0X0 8a methyl 3,4,6,7,8,8a hexahydro lnaphthoic acid.

17. 6 oxo 8 methyl 1,2,6,7,8,8a -hexahydro 1- naphthoic acid.

No references cited. 

11. A COMPOUNDS SELCECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 1-CYANO-6- ALKOXY -8A- METHYL -3,7,8,8A- TETRAHYDRONAPHTHALENE, 6-OXO-8A-METHYL-3,4,6,7,A-HEXAHYDRO-1 NAPHTHOIC ACID, AND 6-OXO-8A-METHYL-1,2,6,7,8,8A-HEXAHYDRO-1-NAPHTHOCIA ACID. 